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Wrestlemania has come and gone! The tree has been taken down, the wrapping paper thrown away, the candy all but entirely eaten. I really enjoyed the last four days of wrestling and even though I didn’t get all of my predictions right and I wasn’t happy with all of the endings, I had a good time watching all of WWE’s shows. Let’s take a look at how wrong my predictions were!

NXT TakeOver: New Orleans I predicted most of NXT TakeOver correctly, only getting the NXT North American Championship wrong. I didn’t expect WWE to go all in on Undisputed Era! I was also caught off guard by Rodrick Strong joining the group. Even though the rest of the show was fairly predictable, the outcomes all felt right, with Shayna now leading the NXT Women’s division (though I don’t know who could believably face her), Aleister Black being the men’s World Champion, and Johnny putting a rightful end to his feud with Ciampa. I’ve never given ratings to matches (at least not that I can remember) but if I did, this main event would get five stars, 10 out of 10 and top marks all around! I think Ricochet was the star of the night though, and I was glad he was given so much time to shine in the ladder match.

Wrestlemania 34- The Preshow! I predicted that Big Cass and Bayley would win the battle royals and Mustafa Ali would win the Cruiserweight title and I was wrong, wrong, wrong! (though kind of right about the women’s battle royal coming down to Bayley and Sasha) Normally I hate it when a wrestler hides outside of the ring during a battle royal because it’s so played out, but I didn’t mind when it’s Naomi and the battle royal isn’t for anything. I was a little disappointed to see Bray back so early too, especially when he’s the same guy except a face. I guess the Lake of Rejuvenation is now just a Lake of Being Nice. The cruiserweight match was good, but didn’t blow me away like I was hoping it would. I know Cedric called Mustafa the “heart” of 205 Live once before, but when they were yelling at each other about being the heart and soul during the match it seemed like a bit much. It’s not like their careers were on the line or they can’t fight for the title again.

The Midcard and Tag Team Championships! I correctly predicted the winners of the Intercontinental Championship, the Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Championships, and was wrong about the US Championship! While I love the people involved in the tag team matches (except Nicholas, that kid can go jump in a lake), the Smackdown one was pretty forgettable despite having two of the best current WWE tag teams in it (sorry, Bludgeon Bros.) and the Raw one will be in the record books for years to come as a comedy bit before the main event. I know I should be upset about a kid winning the titles, but I never expected Braun’s partner to be anything other than a joke. When I saw Jinder win the US Championship (and Randy win the number one contendership on Smackdown) I immediately lost interest in the whole title. If there was an eject button on a feud, I would be frantically pushing it.

The World Championships I didn’t get any of these right! I was wrong about all the top women’s and men’s belts! I’m really glad though, especially since there are so many questions coming off of the show, like who will be the one to beat Brock, how will Shinsuke work as a heel, and everything going on with Charlotte on Smackdown Live. While I was enthusiastic about Carmella cashing in at Wrestlemania when I was writing my predictions, I really loved Charlotte winning that great singles match by herself and then getting ganged up on to lose the title two days later on Smackdown. I think that was just perfect for Charlotte and Carmella, a great way to introduce the Iconic Duo, and a respectable way for Asuka’s streak to end.

All the Rest While I was wrong about Kevin and Sami winning, I predicted Undertaker vs. Cena and the mixed tag correctly! Kevin and Sami’s storyline is another thing I’m genuinely curious to see the outcome of. As for the match itself, I loved seeing Bryan back in the ring, but it always pains me to see Shane, who will always be a corporate non-wrestler in my mind, beating the crap out of his opponents. That he was doing it to two men while suffering from a diverticulated hernia made it even worse. And while I didn’t mind Cena vs. Undertaker being short when I was in the middle of a seven hour long show, thinking back on how much time was spent on Cena’s storyline certainly made it seem like a waste. It didn’t even make Undertaker look good, it just showed he was limited to doing his signature moves in a three minute match. Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle vs. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon blew away all my expectations though. I was prepared to laugh and mock Stephanie’s attempt to get Ronda through a match, but I have to say that the whole thing was pretty fantastic (maybe a little slow in the beginning). Yes, I was one of the many prepared to hate Ronda for her past stances on many, many things, and also not knowing if she will truly be full time or just have Brock’s schedule, but I have to admit she did a great job on Sunday.

So all in all that was a great Wrestlemania weekend with a lot of surprises and a great follow up on Raw and Smackdown Live (I was incredibly happy to see Paige show up as the Smackdown GM too). I predicted four out of five TakeOver matches correctly and five out of fourteen Wrestlemania matches right. Wow, that’s terrible! But shows being unpredictable is a good thing in my book, so all in all I have to say I’m happy with the weekend and looking forward to what’s next!

This upcoming weekend features the biggest WWE show of the year and for once it actually feels like the biggest WWE show of the year! Usually I look at the Wrestlemania card and just see untapped potential, but thanks to some big matches, debuts, and long, ongoing feuds, Wrestlemania 34 truly feels like a proper bookend to a bunch of WWE’s storylines. But who will win and lose? Let me tell you (guess) with my predictions!

NXT Takeover: New Orleans

NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Undisputed Era vs. The Authors of Pain vs. Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne WWE has put a lot into the Undisputed Era and, injury to Fish aside, I’m guessing they move forward with the tag team of Cole and O’Reilly. It seems like the Authors of Pain have been ripe for a callin’ up for a while now and I just can’t get into thrown together tag teams like Strongly Dunne, so I have to pick Undisputed Era to retain. Who will win: The Undisputed Era

NXT North American Championship Match: Adam Cole vs. EC3 vs. Killian Dain vs. Lars Sullivan vs. Ricochet vs. Velveteen Dream While I’m really not sure what this title is supposed to be about given that the men of NXT can already fight for the World, UK, and tag team titles (seriously, we couldn’t get Women’s tag titles first?), this match will be amazing. I’m so glad to finally see EC3 and Ricochet in NXT and I’m hoping one of these two will win it. I’m officially picking EC3 to win though, mostly because winning gold in his first NXT match (who’s Derrick Bateman?) would be a great way to kick off his cocky, heelish career. Who will win: EC3

NXT Women’s Championship Match: Ember Moon vs. Shayna Baszler When Ember debuted I was 100% on board, but after her multiple loses to Asuka (and only winning the title once Asuka left) I think she may be due for a repackaging. The grizzled MMA vet Shayna Baszler on the other hand has been a breath of fresh air in a division stuffed with peppy underdogs so I’m thinking she’s going to win while Ember gets some time off. Who will win: Shayna Baszler

NXT Championship Match: Aleister Black vs. Zelina Vega (with Andrade Cien Almas) As much as I’ve loved seeing Andrade win the championship, his title run has felt more like a story about how great Zelina Vega was at turning him around than anything else. I’m kind of expecting them to get called up soon, so I’m going with the always amazing Aleister Black on this one. Who will win: Aleister Black

Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa I’m not sure why Johnny’s fighting to go back to NXT when everyone else who gets fired goes straight to the main roster, but I won’t let that detail keep me from enjoying what will probably be the best match of the weekend. These two have proved themselves time and time again and made this the biggest feud in NXT, so I have no doubt that Takeover will close with Johnny’s hand held high. Who will win: Johnny Gargano

Wrestlemania 34

WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal It’s tough to predict the winner of the women’s battle royal knowing how pointless winning the men’s battle royal has become, but I guess it’s not about the winner as much as seeing a bunch of wrestlers hit their spots. I’m guessing Bayley and Sasha will be the final two since they’re the only ones with a feud going into this match. It could go either way, but I’ll pick Bayley to win. Who will win: Bayley

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Who will join the likes of Cesaro, Big Show, Baron Corbin, and Mojo Rawley? Other than Big Show, it seems like WWE likes to give the trophy to an upcoming star that they quickly give up on, so… Big Cass. Isn’t he due back soon? Who will win: Big Cass

Cruiserweight Championship Match: Mustafa Ali vs. Cedric Alexander I’m all in on WWE’s new and improved 205 Live and I hope the New Orleans crowd is too. These guys have some of the best matches on their regular Tuesday night show but the crowd rarely makes noise, so it would be great to hear the whole Superdome cheering for them. I could see this going either way, but I’m guessing Mustafa wins because… well, I just want him to. Who will win: Mustafa Ali

Intercontinental Championship Match: The Miz vs. Finn Balor vs Seth Rollins I wouldn’t be surprised to see Miz get some time off after Wrestlemania to spend with his new daughter, so I think either Finn or Seth is bringing the gold home. Seth appears to be on more of a hot streak since that gauntlet match last February, so I’m guessing he wins it. Who will win: Seth Rollins

Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: The Usos vs. the Bludgeon Bros. vs. the New Day As much as I like and appreciate the New Day and the Usos I see the Bludgeon Bros. winning this one and I’m kind of okay with it. I’m not really into their gimmick, but the Usos and New Day have been running the tag division for so long it’s nice to have a new team come in and be a threat. Who will win: The Bludgeon Bros.

Raw Tag Team Championship Match: The Bar vs. Braun Strowman and ??? Braun Strowman will definitely win, we just don’t know who his partner will be. It’s kind of being set up as a joke because he doesn’t need a partner, so I’m guessing a comedy jobber like Curt Hawkins, Heath Slater (sorry Rhyno), or a returning James Ellsworth. Maybe Elias if he isn’t in the battle royal. Big Show possibly? Maybe Mark Henry. It will definitely be on of those six if not someone else. Either way I’m thinking the Monster Among Men wins the belts. Who will win: Braun Strowman and ???

Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn I could see this storyline going a lot of different ways with just about everyone turning on everyone else, so it’s tough to call a winner. I can’t see Bryan losing his return match or turning heel, but I also don’t think Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are getting “fired” even if they just go to Raw. Ultimately I think Owens and Zayn not getting fired wins priority, so I’m guessing they win and Shane crumples into a pile of herniated diverticulitis. Who will win: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey vs. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon I’ve tried to keep an open mind about this match, but it’s hard for me to get excited about it. Triple H and Kurt Angle fighting in 2018 is enough to turn me away, but adding in Stephanie McMahon and the newcomer Ronda Rousey only makes it worse. I’m sure there will be fun moments where Ronda chases Stephanie around the ring or where Steph makes a goofy “Ruh roh” face when Ronda blocks a slap, but other than a dramatic finish where Triple H and Stephanie tap out at the same time, I’m not sure what to look forward to. Who will win: Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey

Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Charlotte vs. Asuka I think this is it. This is where Asuka’s streak comes to an end, and as a big fan of hers I’m totally fine with it. It’s got to end sometime and it may as well be at the biggest show they have. I don’t think she’s losing it to Charlotte though, but rather Carmella when she cashes in her Money in the Bank briefcase. Who will win: Carmella

Raw Women’s Championship Match: Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax Nia just turned babyface not that long ago and I think WWE loves Alexa fat shaming Nia too much to have the title change now. This feud is just getting started and honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a quick match with a wonky DQ finish. Who will win: Nia by DQ

John Cena vs. the Undertaker: What I wouldn’t give to have seen this match a few years ago! While the storyline of Cena worrying about his Wrestlemania spot while also not wanting to take a spot away from other superstars has left me cold, his insults about the Undertaker have definitely made me want to see the Deadman kick his ass. While I haven’t been impressed with Undertaker’s matches for many years, I think Cena will give him a great match and put ‘Taker over for his last Wrestlemania match. Until next year. Who will win: The Undertaker

Smackdown WWE Championship Match: AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura This is the match everyone’s looking forward to! I’ve enjoyed the build up to it with AJ getting caught up in all of the General Manager and Commissioner mess while Shinsuke plays it cool as a cat. While I would normally expect AJ Styles to win given how much he connects with the crowd, his leg injury makes me think he’ll be taking some time off after Sunday. Who will win: Shinsuke Nakamura

Raw Universal Championship Match: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns For the last year we’ve known how Wrestlemania 34 would end- with Roman beating Brock for the title. Sure, the year would’ve been more interesting if Samoa Joe or Braun Strowman could’ve gotten a win over Brock in there somewhere, but that just wasn’t in the cards. I’m past ready for Brock to return to UFC and never come back. Who will win: Roman Reigns

Wow, that’s a lot of matches! And other than a couple I think they’ll all be pretty damn good. I don’t know how accurate my predictions will be given that I’m predicting just about every title to change hands, but it would make for a fun Wrestlemania regardless. So what do you, dear reader, think? Am I way off on these?